When the hair-brained idea to build a privately-funded wall between Arizona and Mexico was first proposed by state Sen. Steve Smith in 2011 I called it Smith's "Fence of Dreams."

Naturally, it’s been more of a nightmare.

A joke.

And yet another reason for those in other parts of the country to make fun of the rubes running Arizona.

But, in those frenzied anti-immigrant, border-paranoia times, Smith was effusive.

"I can't tell you the outpouring of support we have had from all corners of the country," Smith told me before the state officially began taking donation.. "This story has been featured in just about every media outlet in the nation. We've gotten phone calls, letters and e-mails from all over from people wanting help. I can't wait for July 20."

Smith’s bill, which was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Jan Brewer, allowed the state to collect donations to build a border fence. They planned to collect $50 million.

Ha!

"The reason I wrote the bill is that I really do think that we could raise a lot of money across the country by doing this," Smith told me back then. "We have to do the job because the federal government isn't doing it. And Arizona can't do it.

"We're broke. So, my mantra in all of this has been President Kennedy saying, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.' At this point in the game, the border is a major problem. An American problem, not just an Arizona problem."

The law created a Border Security Trust Fund and the Joint Border Security Advisory Committee, made up of three members of the state House of Representatives, three members of the Senate and six members appointed by the governor.

After all these years the fund sits at about $265,000 and, according to news reports, the operation will be disbanded. And for good reason. A secure border wall has been estimated to cost between $400,000 and $1 million per mile.

So….

"It's hard to tell when we can start construction," Smith told me in 2011. "That is contingent on how much is donated and how fast."